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Advice for new members of the 113th Congress

New lawmakers must stake out a legislative specialty, veterans say. | M.Scott Mahaskey/POLITICO

Meredith Persily Lamel, a consultant who has routinely helped new members figure out their budget and staffing issues over the years, said members often make the rookie mistake of overextending their checkbooks when they take office.

“Starting out small, it’s easier to grow than take away. Start out with one district office, and then, add offices later,” said Persily Lamel, who is the former director of training and consulting at the Congressional Management Foundation and works at American University. “It’s a huge opportunity to open additional offices, whereas closing an office is a full-on negative.”

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Another big mistake, she says, is hiring too many senior-level staffers in the beginning. Alternatively, members can sometimes hire too many people without the necessary skill sets just because they happen to be close.

“Don’t hire someone you can’t fire,” she said.

Anyone who spends endless days running through the Capitol will tell you to always wear comfortable shoes. But former Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-N.Y.) managed to move swiftly around the marble halls in spike high heels — she swears they are comfortable. As she leaves Congress after only one term, her big piece of advice to incoming freshmen is to enjoy every minute.

“Be grateful for every day here, even when the work is tough,” she said. “You have a distinctive opportunity to make people’s lives better.”

As she rushed off to make a vote on the Senate floor, retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), who took office in 1993, said members should pay attention to the rules of the floor because doing so can save precious minutes.

“I wish I had known that they had five extra minutes on the voting clock, so I would have known not to rush so much,” Hutchison said.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) advised getting to know Democrats, patting Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who entered the Senate in late 2010 a few months before Rubio, on the back.

“Really figure out the issues you care passionately about, and try to become an expert on them,” Rubio said. “And that takes time, a lot of time, a lot of work. But that’s how you gain the respect of your colleagues.”

“And right after this is when he says you get to know really good people to work with,” Coons chimed in.

“Great people,” Rubio joked in return. “Especially if they pay for stuff like dinner.”